Although still in its infancy, the market has exciting potential, and the textile industry is optimistic that further technical developments will open up new markets and create growing business opportunities. Some have estimated that the market for cosmetotextiles will be worth Euro500 million (US$717 million) in 2013.

Cosmetotextiles represent a significant innovation for both the cosmetics industry and the textile industry. For the textile industry, cosmetotextiles provide a way of increasing added value while satisfying consumers’ growing demand for beauty and anti-ageing products.

Demand for beauty products is buoyant -- especially in countries with ageing populations -- as consumers become increasingly interested in fitness, health and appearance.

ADVANCE u2Demand is being fuelled in particular by the desire of consumers to combine well-being, or “wellness”, with clothing attributes which are now taken for granted -- such as breathability, comfort and aesthetics.

In fact, wearable skincare has been named by a UK-based market research firm in 2010 as one of ten trends to watch in packaged goods.

The market for cosmetotextiles has greatly expanded in recent years to encompass a wide range of garments which are designed to appeal to health conscious consumers. Manufacturers claim that their products can reduce cellulite, moisturise the skin, cool the body or even deliver vitamins.

Also, while manufacturers faced a number of technological challenges in the early years, these have been largely overcome thanks to advances in microencapsulation.

Such advances have opened up new opportunities for enhancing the performance of cosmetotextiles.

In turn, performance enhancements have enabled manufacturers to offer clothing items which are perceived by consumers to have higher added value, and therefore such items often command premium prices.

Admittedly, some consumers remain sceptical about the concept of combining cosmetics and textiles, and many believe that the concept is merely a gimmick. It will be some time, therefore, before these consumers are convinced of the effectiveness of cosmetotextile products.

ADVANCE u2On the other hand, plug-in air fresheners and aromatherapy products are growing in popularity, and sales of cosmetotextiles stand to benefit from this trend. Furthermore, belief in the concept of cosmetotextiles is likely to be strengthened by the progressive involvement of high profile companies in the cosmetics industry as well as those in apparel -- including major sportswear suppliers such as Nike and Adidas.

Issue No 37 of Performance Apparel Marketsincludes the following reports: